Two Houghton students sitting at their desks talking in their dorm room.

Packing List

What to bring to Houghton University

Below are our recommendations for what to pack and what you may want to share with a roommate. As you prepare to arrive on campus, keep in mind that Houghton experiences all four seasons, so you'll want to bring items for warm weather, rain, and snow throughout the year.

We recommend packing light, but we also understand that you may not know exactly what you'll need on a daily basis until you've settled in! It's perfectly okay to come prepared with a few extra items and then take some home after you've had a chance to figure out what you do and don't need in your space.

View Floor Plan

Plan ahead knowing the dimensions of an average room and furniture in your residence hall (including mattress size).

Essentials

Everything you will need, but might not think about!

  • Laundry Basket
  • Bedding
  • Toiletries
  • Shower Caddy & Shower Shoes – flip flops work great!
  • Hangers
  • Over the door shoe rack or over the door hooks
  • Robe
  • Bath Towels
  • Fan – it’s hot in the residence halls the first 2 weeks
  • Power Strips with surge protection (NYS Fire Safety Tip: extension cords not permitted)
  • Dishes (cup, mug, plate, a cooking pot, silverware)
  • Slippers
  • Small Trash Can
  • Headphones
  • School Supplies

Fun

What you will need to make the most of your leisure time at Houghton (and to enjoy the beautiful 1,300-acre campus)!

  • Hammock
    New Students: Complete your enrollment checklist to receive a Houghton hammock when you move-in!
  • Sports Equipment
  • Outdoor Attire
  • Bike, Scooter, Roller Blades
  • Board Games
  • Video Games
  • Bluetooth Speaker
  • Craft Supplies
  • Winter Snow Gear
  • Swim Trunks (We have a pool!)
  • Snacks
  • Coffee Maker (Fire Safety Note: All Coffee makers must have automatic shut off. Keurig coffee makers are a great option!)
  • Electric Kettle: helpful for making some hot tea, soup, or mac and cheese quickly in your room.
  • Projector

Room Decorations

  • Photos and Posters
  • Lamps (NYS Fire Safety Tip: all student lamps must have an LED light bulb; lamps with USB ports or outlets on the base cannot be used in rooms due to NYS Fire Code)
  • LED lights (NYS Fire Safety Tip: traditional Christmas lights are not permitted, must be LED. LED lights cannot be installed over doorways, windows, or wrapped around furniture like beds). Decorating tip: use LED tape lights at own risk – these have been known to pull paint off walls which would be a damage fine assessed to the student at end of the year. We recommend rope lights or LED Lights hooked on 3M strips
  • 3M Strips
  • Sticky Tack
  • Residence halls are equipped with blinds. For those desiring curtains, they must be fire-retardant, with an attached label to the curtain indicating fire-retardant status. If ordering online, students should keep the packaging or online description for proof of approved curtains.
  • Non-College Owned Furniture: the university cannot allow non-college owned furniture to be brought to campus due to NYS Fire regulations. If you have a specific question about furniture, you may reach out to housing@houghton.edu
  • Succulents can be a great addition to your room!

Collaborate with Your Roommate

You only need 1 of these, so check with your roommate to see what each of you will bring.

  • TV
  • Streaming device (Amazon Firestick, AppleTV, Roku; there is no cable in the residence halls)
  • Mini Fridge (Note: max fridge size is 2.7 cubic feet; must be energy star certified. Every residence hall floor and townhouse has a full size fridge for community use

Please Leave at Home

  • Multi-headed Lamps
  • Wall Tapestries and Large Flags
  • Bed risers, lofting kits, or any home-made bed risers
  • Pets

One Stop Shop with Dormify

To make your transition to campus as easy as possible, The Highlander Shop (Houghton's Bookstore) partners with Dormify so you can order items for your residence hall room and have them shipped directly to Houghton.

Order Your Room Essentials on Dormify